MSK- Posterior Compartment of the Thigh, Popiliteal Fossa, and Posterior Compartment of the Leg Flashcards
sciatic nerve
composed of the tibial and common fibular divisions
long head of the biceps femoris muscle
Proximal Attachment: ischial tuberosity
Distal Attachment: Head of the fibula
Innervation: tibial division of the sciatic nerve
Action: Extend the thigh; flex and laterally rotates leg
tibial division of the sciatic nerve
The tibial nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve. The tibial nerve passes through the popliteal fossa to pass below the arch of soleus
short head of the biceps femoris muscle
Proximal Attachment: linea aspera (of the femur)
Distal Attachment: Head of the fibula
Innervation: common fibular nerve
Action: Extend the thigh; flex and laterally rotates leg
semitendinosus muscle
Proximal Attachment: Ischial tuberosity
Distal Attachment: Medial part of proximal tibia
Innervation: Tibial division of the sciatic nerve
Action: Extend thigh; flex and medially rotate leg
semimembranosus muscle
Proximal Attachment: Ischial tuberosity
Distal Attachment: Medial condyle of tibia
Innervation: Tibial division of the sciatic nerve
Action: Extend thigh; flex and medially rotate leg
common fibular division of the sciatic nerve
It descends obliquely along the lateral side of the popliteal fossa to the head of the fibula, close to the medial margin of the biceps femoris muscle
popliteal fossa
Superolateral - biceps femoris muscle
Superomedial - semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles
Inferolateral and inferomedial - the two heads of the gastrocnemius muscle
Posterior - skin and deep (popliteal) fascia
Anterior - popliteal surface of the femur, the posterior surface of the capsule of the knee joint, and the popliteus muscle
common fibular nerve
division of the sciatic nerve; the common fibular nerve parallels the biceps femoris tendon and passes superficial to the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle
medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle
Proximal Attachment: medial condyle of femur
Distal Attachment: Calcaneal tendon
Innervation: Tibial nerve
Action: Plantarflexes ankle when knee is extended; flexes leg at knee joint
lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle
Proximal Attachment: lateral condyle of femur
Distal Attachment: Calcaneal tendon
Innervation: Tibial nerve
Action: Plantarflexes ankle when knee is extended; flexes leg at knee joint
plantaris muscle
Proximal Attachment: Lateral side of distal femur
Distal Attachment: Calcaneal tendon
Innervation: Tibial nerve
Action: Weak plantarflexion
popliteal artery
The popliteal artery is a deeply placed continuation of the femoral artery after it passes through the adductor hiatus, or opening in the distal portion of the adductor magnus muscle. It courses through the popliteal fossa and ends at the lower border of the popliteus muscle, where it branches into the anterior and posterior tibial arteries
popliteal vein
As it ascends through the fossa, it crosses behind the popliteal artery so that it comes to lie on its lateral side. It passes through the opening in the adductor magnus to become the femoral vein
popliteus muscle
Proximal Attachment: Lateral epicondyle of femur
Distal Attachment: Posterior surface of proximal tibia
Innervation: Tibial Nerve
Action: unlocks extended knee
pes anserinus
Pes anserinus (“goose foot”) refers to the conjoined tendons of three muscles that insert onto the anteromedial (front and inside) surface of the proximal extremity of the tibia. The muscles are the sartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus
crural fascia
the investing fascia of the lower limb (goes down the entire posterior leg)- for our purposes: the crural fascia goes from the popliteal fossa to the calcaneus and once opened exposes the posterior compartment of the leg
calcaneal tendon
aka. Achilles tendon; attaches to the gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris; inserts into the calcaneus bone; plantarflexion of the foot
soleus muscle
Proximal Attachment: Soleal line of the tibia and proximal fibula
Distal Attachment: Calcaneal tendon
Innervation: Tibial nerve
Action: Plantarflexes ankle
tendon of the plantaris muscle
plantaris has small muscle and very long tendon; longest tendon in the human body- innervated by the tibial nerve
posterior tibial artery
The posterior tibial artery of the lower limb carries blood to the posterior compartment of the leg and plantar surface of the foot, from the popliteal artery via the tibial-fibular trunk. It is accompanied by a deep vein, the posterior tibial vein, along its course
anterior tibial artery
The anterior tibial artery of the leg carries blood to the anterior compartment of the leg and dorsal surface of the foot, from the popliteal artery
interosseous membrane
interosseous membrane of the leg extends between the interosseous crests of the tibia and fibula, helps stabilize the Tib-Fib relationship and separates the muscles on the front from those on the back of the leg
flexor digitorum longus
Proximal Attachment: Posterior surface of tibia
Distal Attachment: Phalanges of toes 2-5
Innervation: Tibial nerve
Action: Flexes toes 2-5; plantarflexes ankle (weakly)
flexor hallucis longus
Proximal Attachment: Posterior surface of fibula
Distal Attachment: Great toe
Innervation: Tibial nerve
Action: Flexes great toe; weakly plantarflexes ankle
tibialis posterior
Proximal Attachment: Posterior surface of tibia and fibula
Distal Attachment: Medial aspect of the foot
Innervation: tibial nerve
Action: Plantarflexes ankle; inverts foot
flexor retinaculum
a strong fibrous band, extending from the bony ankle prominence (malleolus) above, to the margin of the heelbone (calcaneus) below, converting a series of bony grooves in this situation into canals for the passage of the tendons of the flexor muscles and the posterior tibial vessels and tibial nerve into the sole of the foot
fibular artery
essentially follows the fibula bone all the way down the leg; supplies blood to the lateral compartment of the leg. It arises from the tibial-fibular trunk
